Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Zoology

Breast cancer is considered one of the most heterogeneous diseases that might be difficult to characterize and then to treat. cIAP1, also called baculoviral IAP repeat containing 2 (BIRC2) is a member of a highly conserved and critically important family of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). In the present study, different kinds of treatment have been applied to breast cancer cells (MCF-7) to assess the role of small interference RNA (siRNA) in the regulation of cIAP1 gene expression and also to investigate the occurred change in the methylome of these malignant cells. Trypan blue and MTT assay were implemented to assess the integrity of cell membrane and cell viability after being transfected. Global methylation was quantified in treated and untreated cells, and the results obtained indicated that the drugs/drug combinations applied (temozolomide, carboplatin, sodium phenylbutyrate, cyclophosphamide, erlotinib, procaine, vorinostat, and combinations) have a tremendous effect on the methylation landscape of the cells. Real time PCR was employed to assess the level of expression of different genes; cIAP1, RASSF1, PTEN, P21, and P53. The obtained result indicated that the cIAP1 expression has responded positively (Down-regulated) to the anti-apoptotic siRNA treatment. On the methylation level, there was a variation in the methylation pattern. However, this study needs more conformational investigation to elucidate the mode of action of the used drugs in epigenetically regulating these genes

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